Family & Pets

The life-changing lesson Turia Pitt has learnt since becoming a mum

Turia Pitt is known to never slow down. As a woman driven by the thought of making her next move better than her last, a life changing event has taught her to take each day as it comes.

She’s a survivor, after making it through the terrifying fire that caused severe burns across 65 per cent of her body and which didn’t change her outlook on life. Then there was competing in different marathons across the country – even while pregnant.

But the athlete recently welcomed a baby boy into the world, her 10-month-old son Hakavai, and now that he’s her priority, Pitt has rethought her philosophy.

“I no longer have any desire to do an Ironman,” Pitt told lifestyle magazineStellar. “Having a baby has changed me and when you become a mum you quickly realise your whole life fits in around your kids.”

She became famous after she was labelled an inspiration for her strength through the tragedy that occurred while running an ultra-marathon in 2011. And while she is known for her resilience, she says that motherhood hasn’t reduced her passion or drive but has repurposed it.

“I don’t want to be out running for five hours straight,” she said. “I know how precious life is and I’d rather be with my son.”

But with Pitt, she’s always looking for a new challenge and this time round it’s the New Zealand Kathmandu Coast to Coast race next February which she is also an ambassador for. This will be the first race she will be competing in after giving birth, which is why she will be taking it slowly by competing in the 30km mountain run section.

She hopes, that through the race, she gives women the message that any goal, regardless of how small, is important and motivating.

“I don’t want to achieve anything crazy, I just want to get my fitness back and finish with a smile on my face,” she says. “These sorts of events are good for mums who are going through the motions of going to work, coming home, cooking dinner and doing the washing. It can be monotonous if there’s not something exciting happening or something to work towards and look forward to.”

Pitt, 31, admits to being delusional as she assumed her son would be easy to raise. Instead he turned out like every other child who needs constant care and attention.

“I thought I could live my life and spend time with Hakavai, but he is my life at the moment. I had no idea.”